It had closed permanently by 2022. In September of 2023 the Jesuit newspaper ran a story about the conversion of the old theater into classrooms and multipurpose space for the local Catholic high school.
https://jesuitnews.com/19914/news/former-valley-theater-now-two-classrooms-multipurpose-space/
Please change the status for this theater to closed.
Based on many sources, here is a timeline for the names given to this theater over the years:
1910: Heilig
1913: Earliest known exhibition of motion pictures
1919: Hippodrome
1929: Rialto
1930: Mayfair
1954: Fox
1990: Final year of film exhibition
1997: Demolished
This is not the Music Box on 9th Avenue. This is the Music Box on Broadway and Stark (Harvey Milk), as it appeared from 1928-32. It was best known as the Liberty Theatre.
The genesis of the Roxy Theatre’s lobby can be seen in this map. When it opened in 1914 as the National Theatre, the building occupied only the northern half of the narrow block. Lobby entrances were situated on West Park (which would become SW 9th in 1932) and East Park (which would become SW Park in 1932). After conversion to the Strand Theatre, a new lobby entrance was created through the Columbia Building, giving the Strand/Rivoli/Roxy Theatre a more prominent Washington Street address.
The modern address for this theater would be 801 SW Washington, at the corner of Park. The address was changed during Portland’s “Great Renumbering” of 1931-32.
I remember this. At one point, the owners of the theater took possession of a number of architectural artifacts from the old Oriental Theater in Portland and installed them in this theater. “The Oriental” was a revival house.
The Playhouse opened as the Baker in September, 1910. The 1,200 seat venue was a new home for the Baker Players. The theater included film as part of their entertainment offerings. Over the years it would be renamed the Dufwin, Alcazar, Music Box (one of six in Portland to carry that name) and El Capitan. It was named the Playhouse in 1932. It was used for church services in 1950, closed in 1953 and was demolished in 1954.
This is not the Playhouse Theatre located at 1107 SW Morrison. This is a much earlier (1902) Baker Theater that was home to the Baker Stock Company, a live theater/burlesque/vaudeville company.
The address for this theater is incorrect. The historic address of the Peoples Theatre (later Music Box) was 127 West Park. In Portland’s “Great Renumbering,” (1930-32) that became 517 SW 9th. This is the location of the Peoples under its various incarnations.
Any historic document listing an address in Portland pre-1932 is likely incorrect. You may find the corresponding modern address at https://pastportland.com/ .
This is not a program for the Playhouse Theater. This is a program for the Baker Stock Company, a troupe of stage performers from the early years in Portland, Oregon.
It should be noted that, as is the case with many early Portland, Oregon movie houses, the address for this one is incorrect on today’s map of the city. Starting in 1930, Portland went through a “Great Renumbering” and many addresses were shifted. This theater was located in the Oregonian Building, and that address in 1908 was 135 SW 6th. After 1932, and to the present day, that address is 537 SW 6th.
To find the modern locations of historic Portland addresses, use the following web site: https://pastportland.com/
The address for this entry is incorrect. The modern address for this site is 414 SW 6th. The Columbia Theatre opened in 1913 at what was then 106 SW 6th. The address was changed in Portland’s “Great Renumbering” of 1931-32. In 1935 the house was operating as the Downtown Theatre. In 1947 the facade was given a drastic streamline-moderne conversion and the theater was named The Century. From 1952 through its closure in 1955 it was operated as the 20th Century News Theatre, exclusively showing newsreels. The building was demolished in 1957.
This photo is from page 1533 of The Moving Picture World (1914). The accompanying article states it was sent to MPW by Edward C. Sacks of the Academy, Conneaut, Ohio. It is a photo of a successful promotion that involved presenting two dozen little boys with cowboy and Indian costumes and using them to publicize a screening of “The First Law of Nature.”
This was operated a Moyer Luxury Theater, yes.
It had closed permanently by 2022. In September of 2023 the Jesuit newspaper ran a story about the conversion of the old theater into classrooms and multipurpose space for the local Catholic high school. https://jesuitnews.com/19914/news/former-valley-theater-now-two-classrooms-multipurpose-space/
Please change the status for this theater to closed.
This is a photo of the Liberty Theatre, with the Empress marquee.
Based on many sources, here is a timeline for the names given to this theater over the years: 1910: Heilig 1913: Earliest known exhibition of motion pictures 1919: Hippodrome 1929: Rialto 1930: Mayfair 1954: Fox 1990: Final year of film exhibition 1997: Demolished
This is not the Music Box on 9th Avenue. This is the Music Box on Broadway and Stark (Harvey Milk), as it appeared from 1928-32. It was best known as the Liberty Theatre.
The genesis of the Roxy Theatre’s lobby can be seen in this map. When it opened in 1914 as the National Theatre, the building occupied only the northern half of the narrow block. Lobby entrances were situated on West Park (which would become SW 9th in 1932) and East Park (which would become SW Park in 1932). After conversion to the Strand Theatre, a new lobby entrance was created through the Columbia Building, giving the Strand/Rivoli/Roxy Theatre a more prominent Washington Street address.
This photo is not the Rivoli. It is the peoples Theatre (Music Box).
The modern address for this theater would be 801 SW Washington, at the corner of Park. The address was changed during Portland’s “Great Renumbering” of 1931-32.
This is not the Rivoli (later Roxy) Theatre in Portland, Oregon. This is the Rivoli in Pendleton, Oregon.
Scanned from a 1916 issue of Moving Picture World magazine.
I remember this. At one point, the owners of the theater took possession of a number of architectural artifacts from the old Oriental Theater in Portland and installed them in this theater. “The Oriental” was a revival house.
The Baker Theatre c.1910. It was converted from a former stable and was used as the home of the Baker Players.
The Playhouse opened as the Baker in September, 1910. The 1,200 seat venue was a new home for the Baker Players. The theater included film as part of their entertainment offerings. Over the years it would be renamed the Dufwin, Alcazar, Music Box (one of six in Portland to carry that name) and El Capitan. It was named the Playhouse in 1932. It was used for church services in 1950, closed in 1953 and was demolished in 1954.
This is not the Playhouse Theatre located at 1107 SW Morrison. This is a much earlier (1902) Baker Theater that was home to the Baker Stock Company, a live theater/burlesque/vaudeville company.
This is not the Heilig/Rialto/Mayfair/Fox Theatre building. This is the Belasco, a completely different building.
The address for this theater is incorrect. The historic address of the Peoples Theatre (later Music Box) was 127 West Park. In Portland’s “Great Renumbering,” (1930-32) that became 517 SW 9th. This is the location of the Peoples under its various incarnations.
Any historic document listing an address in Portland pre-1932 is likely incorrect. You may find the corresponding modern address at https://pastportland.com/ .
The Majestic (later United Artists Theatre) occupied the same block as the Liberty. Their entrances were on the opposite corners.
This is not a program for the Playhouse Theater. This is a program for the Baker Stock Company, a troupe of stage performers from the early years in Portland, Oregon.
This is not the Liberty. This is the Broadway.
This is not the Liberty Theater. This is the Broadway.
It should be noted that, as is the case with many early Portland, Oregon movie houses, the address for this one is incorrect on today’s map of the city. Starting in 1930, Portland went through a “Great Renumbering” and many addresses were shifted. This theater was located in the Oregonian Building, and that address in 1908 was 135 SW 6th. After 1932, and to the present day, that address is 537 SW 6th.
To find the modern locations of historic Portland addresses, use the following web site: https://pastportland.com/
The address for this entry is incorrect. The modern address for this site is 414 SW 6th. The Columbia Theatre opened in 1913 at what was then 106 SW 6th. The address was changed in Portland’s “Great Renumbering” of 1931-32. In 1935 the house was operating as the Downtown Theatre. In 1947 the facade was given a drastic streamline-moderne conversion and the theater was named The Century. From 1952 through its closure in 1955 it was operated as the 20th Century News Theatre, exclusively showing newsreels. The building was demolished in 1957.
According to a 1912 issue of The Moving Picture World, this picture was taken at the People’s Theater on “Florence Turner Night.”
This photo is from page 1533 of The Moving Picture World (1914). The accompanying article states it was sent to MPW by Edward C. Sacks of the Academy, Conneaut, Ohio. It is a photo of a successful promotion that involved presenting two dozen little boys with cowboy and Indian costumes and using them to publicize a screening of “The First Law of Nature.”
The Walnut Park Theatre opened on February 17, 1924. Cost was $55,000 and seating capacity was 550.
Much more here: https://heyneighborpdx.com/ne-history-the-walnut-park-theater/
A quick note: This building today is the Milwaukie Lumber Company, at the modern address 8048 SE Stark.